Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of October is the following: “A Church Open to Everyone. We pray for the Church; ever faithful to, and courageous in preaching the Gospel, may the Church be a community of solidarity, fraternity and welcome, always living in an atmosphere of synodality.” *
We’ve heard a lot about “synodality” recently because of Pope Francis’ call for a two year global synodal path to “encounter, listen and discern.” Synodality is fundamentally about journeying together through listening to one another and recognizing the Holy Spirit can speak through any one of us.
So if we are to have a church “open to everyone… living in an atmosphere of synodality” what questions might arise? Perhaps first, we, as the people of God, should ask who is excluded, why the exclusion and what is it that we can learn from these people? What are we all missing out on?
Some people who struggle belonging to the Church include divorced and remarried Catholics, gender non-binary individuals, people who question their faith or beliefs, women who feel a call to serve in roles designated for men, some ethnic or racial groups, those disillusioned by the scandals and abuses in the church and others who may feel marginalized.
As Church we need to look honestly at the barriers these people encounter and reach out in dialogue. Do these barriers need to exist? Are there options or alternatives? What different perspectives do people who feel excluded bring and can we acknowledge the Holy Spirit speaking through them? What biases and prejudices are coloring our experiences and what of these can we lay aside?
In a recent webinar from the Center for Action and Contemplation, founded by Franciscan Fr. Richard Rohr, four panelists, including Fr. Rohr, discussed “The Future of Christianity.” The panelists concluded that for Christianity (including Catholicism) to thrive it will need to welcome and be open to diversity.
Pope Francis’ intentions are clear: We need to be a Church open to all, willing to journey forward in fellowship, welcome and solidarity and to do so we must listen, encounter and engage with one another including those who feel estranged. May we all be open to the Holy Spirit, in ourselves and in one another.
* https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2022
Fr. Jim Martin talks with Pope Francis
An article from America magazine explaining the current status of divorced, remarried Catholics and communion after Pope Francis’ document “Amoris Laetitia.”
An article from America magazine about the call of some women to be deacons. https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2021/09/24/women-deacons-catholic-241495
